We've all been there. Your room has 'acquired' a smell, and you just can't seem to get rid of it. Things that are clean generally shouldn't smell, but some odors have a way of getting all over everything. Here are several ways that really work to lessen odors in a room, in order of effectiveness and relative ease. Use the ones that seem most appropriate to your situation, but for really bad odors it may be worth using multiple methods to attack the smell. Finally, don't panic - these really do work and with a little time and effort the odor can be significantly reduced in a couple of days.
Step 1
Open the window. Unless you think the odor is coming from outdoors, let in fresh air and sunlight. They will work together to lessen any strong smell. If the weather simply doesn't permit, try to ventilate the room some other way, such as by turning on a fan to the outdoors. If nothing else, opening a window will make the rest of the cleanup more bearable. This is a very important step - nothing else helps get rid of odors better than fresh air.
Step 2
Remove the source of the odor. Don't go to the trouble to remove an odor from an area if its cause is still present, making more. Take out the trash, bathe the dog, clean out the fridge, or do whatever it takes to stop any more odor from being created.
Step 3
Vacuum the room. This includes not only carpets, but also upholstery and curtains. If you like, you can sprinkle baking soda or a carpet deodorizer into the carpets first. Give it some time to absorb oils and smells, then thoroughly vacuum it out, making several passes. Carpet deodorizers often come with their own scent which also stays around for a while, so make sure you pick one whose scent you actually like. Vacuuming also pulls dust and debris out of the carpets. Be sure to change the vacuum bag regularly.
Step 4
Wash hard surfaces, including glossy paint, hard flooring, walls (glossy/semigloss paint only), countertops, sinks, tables, and the like. Any mild cleaner that will remove oils without damaging the surface or paint will do. A simple half water, half distilled white vinegar mix is very effective. It also takes advantage of vinegar's odor removing properties. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, try adding some essential oils. Tea tree, lemon and orange are all also antibacterial agents which can help combat odors. This is, in fact, a very effective cleaner, which can be used for regular cleaning.
Flat paint and wallpaper are difficult to wash. Instead, try a dry sponge to remove the film that accumulates on walls and ceilings. Look for them in janitorial stores and good housewares stores. Dry sponges are a treated, natural rubber that works well on dry surfaces, usually brown or red. Fold them over so that only part of a surface touches the wall at a time, then draw them along the wall. Fold them another way when the first surface gets dirty. When the entire sponge is dirty, which is to say black or brown on all surfaces and no longer removing dirt, discard it and use a new one. Don't get a dry sponge wet or attempt to wash it.
Step 5
Shampoo the carpet or have it professionally cleaned. If you think the odor is in the carpet, or the carpet still harbors odors, clean the carpet or have it done. If you know the odor was a specific spot on the carpet, you could also spot treat that area.
- See how to remove pet urine from carpet or how to clean pet vomit from carpet if these are the cause of the problem.
- If you know the carpet is the problem, you may have to replace, or at least remove it to eliminate the odor entirely, especially if it is very badly stained, it has gotten wet, or it has mold or mildew in it.
Step 6
Wash clothing, bedding, and linens if they smell like whatever you are trying to remove. Hanging them outside to air dry might also help. Don't forget throw rugs, blankets, and any other fabric items that have become a fixture in the room. Dry clean anything that can't be washed.
Step 7
Change the filters in any ventilation, heating, or air conditioning system. Those systems work better when the filters are regularly cleaned, anyway, and if you're trying to get rid of odors, there's no sense having them circulate in your ventilation system. If you think the ventilation system is the source of the problem and changing the filters didn't help, see about getting your ducts cleaned.
Step 8
Fight smells with vinegar. Overnight, set a bowl of distilled white vinegar in the room. In the morning, the air will be fresher. You can also use this to deodorize your clothes without the need for washing. Put some distilled white vinegar in a bath with some hot water and hang your clothes above it.
Step 9
Clean the light bulbs. If you have cigarette smoke, or something equally pervasive, the light bulbs will get a coating of whatever it is, on them. When you turn on the light and the bulb begins to warm up, the 'scent' will return. Keep the light bulb clean and it won't be a problem.
Try CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs). Some compact fluorescent bulbs have a titanium dioxide coating that works to absorb odors when the bulb is turned on. Not all compact fluorescent bulbs have this coating, so look for it specifically if you want a bulb for this purpose.
Step 10
Mask the smell with aromatherapy.
- Burn scented candles. The act of burning the candles and their scent will work together to eradicate the odor. Bear in mind that many candles will just mask the odor, so this should be a temporary measure or last resort if you can't deal with the source of the odor.
- Use a diffuser to distribute a scent.
- Use store-bought room fresheners and/or products.
- If you'd prefer an unscented approach, try a spray or odor-absorbing gel. Use this for upholstery or anything else that can't be easily washed or dry cleaned.
- Burn incense. Sometimes, nothing will get through the smell better than burning incense. Again, this is likely just to mask the smell.
Step 11
Have your upholstery cleaned or do it yourself with an upholstery cleaner. Check first in an inconspicuous area that the upholstery is colorfast and compatible with whatever you're using. Don't forget to vacuum under seat cushions, too.
- For leather upholstery, wipe it down with oil soap or saddle soap made for leather.
Step 12
Paint the room. If other measures have failed, try painting the room and, if necessary, replacing the carpet or wallpaper. The new materials will have an odor of their own, but it should dissipate quickly.
- If you are painting to remove odors, make sure to do the preparation properly. Wash the walls with a solution of TSP (trisodium phosphate) according to package directions before painting. Allow them to dry, then apply a stain-blocking primer before applying paint.
- If the odor still persists -- a really bad one such pet urine soaked into the carpet, you may have to replace the carpet AND underlay. If you do have to go this far, paint the floor before laying the new carpet so as to seal any odor left into the sub-floor.
Step 13
Generate Ozone. Ozone generators produce O3, which actually oxidizes organic molecules (a common cause of smells). Ozone shocking is used in extreme cases, such as house fires and floods, by filling an area with a high volume of ozone for 8-10 hours. Ozone in small quantities is generally considered safe, but in moderate to high levels it may irritate the throat or aggravate asthma symptoms. Ozone leaves a distinctive smell of its own, oftentimes referred to as the "thunderstorm smell" (lightning produces high quantities of ozone).
Tips
If you have pets, it helps to keep them clean. Dirty pets make for a dirty smelling house. - It's best, and easiest, to never introduce the odor in the first place. If you succeed in removing an odor, take steps to make sure that whatever caused it doesn't happen again.
Warnings
- Molds can be toxic. Find out if mold is part of the problem.
- If you think the odor is caused by molds, chemicals, rats, or another potential hazard, safely address the hazard, not just the odor.
- Ozone is also toxic to humans, so be sure to read all instructions before using an Ozone generator. Ozone is heavier than air and can build up around the floor. This is dangerous to small children and pets. House cats are especially sensitive to ozone poisoning.
- Some Deodorants and room-fresheners are highy flammable when they are exposed to heat or fire, so keep a watch before using them.
